Bustle



(No Model.)

0. E. BROWN.

' YBUSTLE. No. 306,899. Patented Oct. 21, 1884.

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Witness es.- Inrento 7 Y 60M r-5W N. PETERS. Phalo-Lilhngnphnr, Washinglum D. o

UNITED STATES PATENT Oriana CALEB E. BROWN, OF JACKSON, MICHIGAN.

BUSTLE.

SPECIFICATIQN forming part of Letters Patent No. 306,899, dated October 21, 1884. Application filed February 27, 1884. (No model.)

To aZZ whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, CALEB E. BROWN, a citizen of the United States, residing at J ackson, in the county of Jackson and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bust-les, of'which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to certain improvements in the construction of bustles, and will be described and then claimed.

Inthe accompanying drawings, which illustrate the improvements, Figure 1 is a rear side view of the bustle, a port-ion of the fabric which covers the wire skeleton being removed to more clearly show the said skeleton. Fig. 2 is a cross-section of the bustle. Figs. 3 and 4: each show one of the three wire parts which comprise the frame. Fig. 5 is a top view of the bustle-frame. Fig. 6 shows the wire frame having a modification in the upper wire. Fig. 7 shows the V- shaped springs close together. Fig. Sis a detail of the modifications.

' The object of the invention is to produce a bustle that will respond to the demand for a good article at a low price. The skeleton is composed of three pieces of wire. The piece a has each extremity, 1, bent to engage with another piece. Proceeding from the hooked extremity,.each end of this wire is bent to form an end frame, the sides of which are de noted by 3, 4, and 5. The side 3 serves as part of the top wire or upper edge of the skeleton. The side 4. is vertical, and serves as the end connecting the top wire with the lower-wire, and also serves for attachment of the cotton band D, which rests against the person of the wearer. A strip, e, of cotton clot-his placed over the vertical frame side 4, and this strip is stitched each side of the wire to the band. The frame side 5 serves as part of the lower wire, and between the two frame sides 5 (one at each end) the lower wire is formed into a series of connected V- shaped springs, 6, each having a coil,'7, at its angle and its place of joinder with the adjoining springs. The V- shaped springs of the lower wire will yield to pressure and will close together, as indicated in Fig. 7. A top wire, 12, connects the socalled two end frames, and is adapted to elongate or shorten. The top wire and lower wire are connected at a point intermediate of the vertical-wires 4 by means of a piece of wire, a, which is made fast about the top wire, and has its ends bent at 8 to hook into the coils of the V-shaped springs. The cotton band D, bydrawing on the two vertical end wires, 4, causes the wire skeleton to bow or assume a curved shape, as seen in Fig. 5, adapting it to fit about the person. The top wire, b, in Fig. lis coiled spirally, and thereby is adapted to elongate or shorten, so that the bow shape of the skeleton may yield to pressure. The spirals b of the coil have the inner sides made closer together, so as to incline it to give the bow or curved form.

In Fig. 6 a modification is shown'of the top wire. The side 3 of each end frame continues toward the other, and at the center these lap over each other, as shown at 9. Each one has a turn given it to form a coil or eye, 10, through which the straight part 9 of the other passes. By this construction the straight overlapping parts may slide on each other, and thus be elongated or shortened, effecting substantially the same result as when constructed with the spiral coils shown in Fig. 1.

A cover, F, of stiff fabric similar to wovensea-grass, or any fabric commonly used for bustle-covers, is employed as a cover for the wire skeleton.

A waistband, g, is provided by which the bustle is attached to the person.

Having described my invention, I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States A bustle having a wire skeleton consisting of a frame at each end, having sides 3, 4, and 5, a lower wire to connect the end frames, composed of a series of connected V-shaped springs, 6, each having a coil at its angle and place of joinder, a top wire, 1), adapted to.

elongate or shorten, and wires 0, connecting the top wire and lower wire, as set forth.

, In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CALEB E. BROWN. Witnesses:

CHESTER W. BROWN, E. A. CLEMENT. 

